Upper lasting plate



w. H. NIQKERSON 2,221,430 UPPER LA'STING PLATE Nov. 12, 1940.

Filed Dec. 21, 1937 Patented Nov. 12, 1940 UNITED STATES- PATENT! OFFICE.

1 Claim.

This invention relates to shoes of the type in which the outersole is secured, not by stitches, nails or the like, but by a strongly adherent and cohesive cement. Such shoes are known generically in the trade as stuck-on shoes and include those made by the so called Compo method, Littleway method, and the like.

In shoes of this type, as heretofore made, the outersoles frequently separate from the upper at the shank or instep part of the shoe due to lack of a sufficiently extensive and secure bond at this point. This is a defect met with in all shoes, slippers, etc; of. this type, but is partic ularly prevalent in those made for womens wear. necessary in practically all shoes to prevent the shank from breaking down, have, as heretofore used, limited the area available for adhesive bond ing with the upper to a relatively small proportion of the width at the. shank.

Thus, in womens shoes for instance, the inturned edges of the lasted upper are trimmed away in order toleave. a space for application of the shank stiffeners. Even though such stiffeners are narrow, being in the order of from three sixteenths to five sixteenths of an inch wide, the soles themselves in the shank portion are so narrow that the marginal zones of the upper available at either side of the stiffener for cemented attachment are too narrow to afford an adequate bond. Stifieners forthis use have to be deeply grooved or offset in the longitudinal middle to compensate for their narrow width in providing adequate stiffness, and the offset portion protrudes as a rib between the edges of the upper. Frequently even the entire width of the sole at each side ofsuch rib cannot be utilized for adhesion to the upper because of the extent verse curvature of the cutersole be gradual and free from anything in the nature of a distinct rib with hollows at either side. Consequently it frequently happens that the cemented union of the shank part of the sole with the upper extends only about five sixteenths of an inch or less inward from the opposite edges. This is insuificient to make a permanent bond, and the result is that, after the shoe has been worn for a short time, the outersole separates from the upper at the shank. Sometimes these shank stifieners are wrapped about with tape to cause the cement to adhere to them, for the cement does not adhere well to the bare metal; but taping increases their cost and is not a successful expedient. q

The same difficulties in different degree are The metallic shank stiffeners, which are met with in mens shoes also, in spite of the fact that they are much wider at the shank'than womens shoes. Commonly much wider metallic shank stiffeners, up to three quarters of an inch in width, are used in mens shoes, which destroys the availability for adhesion of a part of the greater width of the entire shank portion.

In mens shoes also it is common to apply a piece of leatherboard between the shank stiffener and the outersole to provide more sticking surface; but these leatherboard pieces are loose, they add an item of expense to the cost of making the shoes, and are unsatisfactory for these reasons. i

The primary object of this invention is to overcome the difiiculties above referred to by making the entire area of the turned in margins of the upper available for adhesive bonding to the outersole, and to cause such area to comprise the entire width of the shank portion of the sole if desired. Another object is to combine with the foregoing a better and more effective support for the shank of the shoe than is obtainable with the narrow stifieners which alone have heretofore been used of usable in womens shoes of the stuck-on type. A further object and accomplishment has been to simplify the process of lasting shoes. 7

The invention comprises a new method of lasting shoes with the use of a strip, plate or frame which is applied to the innersole and is equipped with outstanding points over which the edges of the upper are pullediin the lasting operation. Such points pierce the upper and are clinched to retain the upper in its lasted shape. The outer surface of the upper material overlapping the innersole is available throughout its entire area for adhesive bonding to the outersole, and such area in the shank portion may when desired include the entire width of such portion. The invention further comprises the shoe resulting from the practice of this method and including a strip, plate 'or frame secured to the innersole, overlapped by and secured to the margins of the upper and an outersoleadhesively secured to such margins of the upper.

In the drawing furnished herewith to illustrate the invention Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of strip or shank plate adapted to be secured to the shank portion of a shoe innersole and equipped with'parallel rows of piercing points or of a frame like that shown in Fig. 9 except that I the piercing points are tacks protruding through Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing an upper lasted with the aid of.a strip having a single row of piercing points;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modified-form of holding plate or frame comprising a shank portion and a heel portion equipped with piercing points for holding the margin of the upper in the heel part as well as the shank part of the shoe; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a plate or frame conforming with the entire margin of the innersole and having piercing points adapted to secure the lasted upper throughout the'entire circuit of the turned in edges of the latter.

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of the fore part i of such a frame as that shown in Fig. 9, illustrating suitable alternative provisions for attaching the frame'to the innersole;

' Fig. 11 is a perspective View of the fore part it is made of two thin plates of steel or other suitable metal and the piercing points are tacks protruding through holes in one of the plates with their heads confined between the two plates;

Fig. 12 is a cross section on line l2-|2 of Fig. 11 shown on a larger scale.

Like reference characters designate the same parts wherever they occur in all the figures.

The arch plate shown in Fig. l is a strip a of steel or other suitable metal curved to conform to the arch of a shoe, having holes b adjacent to its ends through which tacks may be driven to attach it to the innersole of the shoe and havingpiercing points 0, made as integral spurs struck out and turned up from the material of the strip, arranged in two rows. In using such a strip for lasting shoes according to the method represented in Fig. 5, the strip is attached by tacks d to the shank part of an innersole e applied to the bottom of a last f. The upper g of the shoe for which the last is designed is pulled over the bottom of the innersole and its margins in the shank portions are passed over the points or spurs c and pressed down so that the spurs pierce and protrude through the upper. The protruding spurs are then clinched over in the direction opposite to that in which the pull and strain of the upper is exerted. Thus this part of the lasted upper is made fast and securely held.

"Ihe fore and heel parts of the lasted upper may be secured to the innersole in any of the ways heretofore known in the manufacture of stuck-on shoes, as by adhesive according to the Compo process, staples according to the Littleway process, tacks or otherwise. The style and construction of the upper otherwise are immaterial to this-invention and may be of any desired character. So also may the steps of pulling over the upper, passing it over the spurs, and securing itto those parts of the shoe bottom where no spurs are provided, be performed in any suitany thickness consistent with the cutting out and bending up of integral spins, and its width is limited only by the width of the innersole. Being thus freed of the width limitations of the shank stifieners heretofore used, it need not have so great thicknessas the latter, or any grooved or ribbed formation, to give substantial support to the shank of the shoe. But if greater strength and stiffness is required than can be furnished by a strip thin and ductile enough for the formation of integral spurs, such strength may be provided by a tempered steel reinforcing strip as presently described.

No trimming of the edges of the upper is required here to admit a shank stiffener. The uppers are commonly cut so that their edges meet or overlap in the shank portion. They are shown in Figs. 5 and 6 as meeting, and with each of the opposite edges or margins impaled by one of the two rows of spurs. Thus the surface of the upper material, which is strongly adherent to the cements used in making shoes of this type, extends virtually without interruption across the entire Width of the shank, available for bonded union to the outersole. Fig. 6 shows the section of an outersole h thus bonded to the upper by a film of cement which is indicated at :i and extends substantially without interruption throughout all, or nearly the entire, shank area.

When the shoe upper is made with edges which overlap at the shank, a shank plate provided with v 7 those here represented. It is within the scope of the invention to make them of any dimensions which will best serve the purpose with various materials and qualities of material used for shoe uppers.

In lasting uppers of the overlapping type referred to, both of the opposite margins are passed over and impaled on the same spurs, as shown in Fig. 7, and the protruding ends of the spurs are clinched over toward the edge of the overlapping part of the upper, that is, in the direction opposite to the pull and strain of the side of the upper last to be impaled. The overlap ping edge may be buffed or ground away so as to remove more or less the abrupt step due to the thickness of the upper material, and leave throughout a large proportionof the length of the shank. It is not essential that the piercing points be made in the form of integral spurs, as thus far described. They may be composed of tacks 7c, of ,which the points and shanks are passed a sloping or scarfed surface merging with thatthrough holes in a strip (1. otherwise equivalent, 7

to the strips ,a and a, and. the heads are confined by a backing strip I connected at its ends to the strip a by rivets m, or other suitable fastening means, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The backing strip may be provided with integral prongs it, cut from its substance and projecting oppositely to the tacks, for attachment to the innersole by being driven through the latter and clinched against the metallic bottom plate or insert in the last. And the backing strip I may be made of tempered steel if desired, and of any thickness needed to give firm support to the shank of the shoe.

Such a backing strip may be combined in the same manner with strips formed with integral spurs, such as those shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In these combinations the backing strip may either (and preferably) have integral prongs such as the prongs n, or be formed with holes for passage of the attaching tacks cl. In any of such combinations the outer strip may be thin and have inappreciable stiffness, the arch supporting function being then mainly or wholly performed by the backing strip, the thickness and hardness of which need not be limited by the limitations of integral spurs. But, on the other hand, the strips 0. and a, and other single strips or plates carryin integral spurs may be made with integral prongs projecting oppositely to the spurs.

Although the illustration here given of a duplex strip or plate shows two rows of points, it will be obvious without further illustration that a single row like the single row of spurs shown ,in Fig. 2, may be provided. In any case where the plate has a single row of spurs, such row is preferably in or near the middle line of the plate; and where there are two rows, both are preferably as near the middle line as possible, in order to engage the upper near its edges and hold it with the least possible width of loose margins. But it would not be a departure from the basic principles of the invention to locate integral or autogenously joined spurs at the opposite edges of the plate or strip.

The points or spurs provided by the inserted tacks 7c are functionally equivalent to the integral spurs previously described. It is feasible also to make the points by means of tacks or the like which are welded to the strip. Hence the term spurs, when used in this specification and in the claims without qualification, is intended to have a generic significance, including spurs formed by loosely inserted tacks or the like as well as those which are struck up from the material of the strip itself or are autogenously joined to the strip.

The manner in which I believe the new steps of this invention will have their greatest utility and be most generally used is in connection with the shank or instep part of the shoe. However, their application is not limited to this part of the shoe only, but may be extended to effect the connection of the upper to the innersole around the outline of the heel part or fore part, or both the heel and fore parts, as well as the shank. Fig. 8 shows a shank a combined in one piece with a heel plate or frame 0; having Spurs 1) for impaling the contiguous parts of the upper in the manner just described. Such heel plate may be secured to the innersole by tacks driven through holes q suitably located. The heel plate or frame is open in its mid area, leaving a border only wide enough to support and hold the spurs, in order to permit nailing on of the heel in the usual way.

Fig. 9 shows an extension of the invention to provide, in addition to the shank plate a an integrally united heel plate 0', and fore part plate s, provided with spurs adapted to secure the margins of the upper throughout the entire circuit of the shoe bottom. The heel plate in this instance also is open in its interior area to leave room for passage of heel attaching nails or other fastenings, and the fore part plate is open in its interior to make it more flexible. The side members of the frame thus created are connected by a tie strip t to prevent being pulled apart by the upper, and such tie strip may be perforated by a hole u to admit a tack for attaching it to the innersole. But instead of attachment in this manner, the fore part plate or frame may be formed with perforated lugs 12 on its inner edges, as shown in Fig. 10, for receiving tacks.

In Figs. 8 and 9, the heel and fore part plates are shown as provided with integral struck up spurs, but equivalent spurs may be equally well provided in these parts also by tacks 70 held by a backing plate Z, as shown in Fig. 11, in substantially the same manner as described with respect to Fig. 3, by rivets or the like (not shown) applied in any locations desired. Such duplex plates may be fastened to the innersole as described with reference to Figs. 8, 9 or 10, or otherwise. Extremely thin steel plates may be used for holding the spurs in the fore part, when such spurs are tacks of which the heads are confined between two plates, in order to be flexible, and. when such thin plates are used thefiexibility of the shoe is not sensibly diminished.

The references in this specification and in the following claims to adhesives and cements are intended to describe and include any of the cements now used in the commercial methods of uniting uppers to innersoles and outersoles to uppers, and any other cement or adhesive which may be hereafter found suitable for such purposes. That is, the terms referred to have no limiting significance with respect to the composition or characteristics of the cements, etc., except only that they must have sufficient tenacity and strength to serve the intended purpose.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings is in a womans shoe, and in. spur-carrying plates and strips designed for use and combination in such a shoe. But this is by way of illustration only, not limitation; for the protection claimed extends to all categories of shoes of the stuck-on type. And the term shoe, as used in this specification and in the following claims, is intended to embrace all footwear of the type designated, whatever may be the subordinate classification of specific articles of such footwear; i. e., whether they are technically called shoes, pumps, slippers, or what not.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A plate for attachment to the surface of an innersole to secure the upper of a shoe, having a row of holes, spurs extending through said holes and having heads abutting on the rear face of the plate, and a backing plate secured to the first named plate and extending across the heads of said spurs, said backing plate having prongs extending in the opposite direction from said spurs. 

